Flint package and display device



June 1955 F. H. BOWERS FLINT PACKAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 27, 1952 5 6 Jill/ll FLINT PACKAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE Fredrick H. Bowers, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,159 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-192) This invention relates to improvements in special receptacles, more particularly, to a combined lighter flint package and display.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the above stated character, whose construction is such that it can be easily and quickly, yet surely, attached to and supported on a can, receptacle or other and suitable object, and receive and retain therein a plurality of socalled lighter hints in such a manner that they will be advantageously displayed from the package; the package being readily removable from the supporting object, and the fiints readily removable from the package, as and when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined flint package and display device of simple and cheap construction, durable and of positive use and because of its simple construction, most advantageously packagable for shipping economy and facility.

More especially, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel lighter flint packaging and displaying device preferably attachable to and supportable on a can or similar dispensing container of lighter fuel in proximity to its top and dispensing neck or spout or the like, in such a manner as to efiectively display the device and its contents and permit handling of the same and fuel container as a unitary assembly, permitting optional access to be had to either without interference with or from the other, and when desired, permit convenient and quick removal of the device from the container for separate carrying or other purpose.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritorious teachings of the invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the particular forms of the invention presented herein are precise and what are now considered to be the best modes of embodying its principles, but that other modifications and changes may be made in its specific embodiments, without departing from the essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional form of lighter fuel containing and dispensing can with my improved flint packaging and displaying device attached to and supported on the same.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged vertical fragmentary section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction in Which the arrows point.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a modified form of the device, wherein the flint receiving and retaining pockets therein, and fiints in said pockets, are covered with transparent sheets.

Figure 4 is a top view of another modified form of my improved device and of a lighter fuel can receiving and supporting the same thereon adjacent its top and about its dispensing spout, and

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

nited States Patent 0 Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly, to that form of the invention shown in the Figures 1 and 2 thereof, my improved package and display device is, preferably, used on a lighter fuel dispensing can, such as identified by the numeral 1, consisting of a rectangular cross-sectionally shaped body having a substantially flat upper end carrying an intermediately arranged and longitudinally disposed spout 2, communicating with its interior and normally closed by a removable cap 3. Of course, various other forms and types of containers may be substituted for the can 1, such as conditions or preference may dictate.

The invention comprises a sheet-like body, generally identified by the reference numeral 4, made of a suitable bendable or pliable material, such as cardboard of a satisfactory thickness, plastic, or even metal. Said body 4 is formed to provide a substantially rectangularly shaped flat portion 5 having an intermediately disposed opening 5' therein. Said portion is of a size which will permit its nesting or snug reception in the similarly shaped fiat and flange-rimmed upper end of the dispensing can 1 and snug reception of the basal portion of its spout 2 therein (see Figures 1 and 2).

A shorter and, if desired, narrower flat portion 6 is on and intermediately of one side of and integral with the larger flat portion 5, while a flat tab-like extension or tongue 7 is integral with and extends from an intermediate portion of the outer and free side of said portion 6. The tongue, preferably, has an opening 8 of appropriate size formed therein and its outer and free sides or edges may be and preferably are curved, as indicated at 9.

A plurality or series of relatively spaced and correspondingly shaped and sized openings 10 are formed in and disposed longitudinally of the device portion 6 and each is adapted to snugly or nestingly receive and removably retain therein a lighter flint, such as generally identified by the reference number 11. As is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the openings 10 in the device portion 6 are each of a shape and size which substantially corresponds to the outlining form of conventional shapes of lighter fiints, such as herein indicated at 11. Consequently, when said fiints are placed in the openings 10 in said portion, they will be bindingly or frictionally engaged, and hence, securely though removably retained therein, for obvious reasons.

In preparing my improved flint packaging and displaying device for use, it will be understood, of course, that the openings in the portion 6, generally identified by the numeral 10, have fiints 11 engaged therein in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2 and hereinbefore described.

In attaching an improved flint packaging and displaying device to the can 1, the portion 6 of the sheet-like body 4 is bent or flexed at and along its point fo jointure with the larger portion 5 into angular and substantially upstanding relation thereto (see Figures 1 and 2). The extension or tongue 7 is bent or flexed inwardly at and along its point of jointure with the portion 5 into angular and substantially horizontal relation to the same. If desired, scoring lines, generally identified at 12, or other weakening means, may be formed in appropriate portions of the sheet-like body 4 to predetermine and facilitate the aforesaid bending or flexing of the portions 6 and 7.

At this time, the now basal portion 5 of the device is engaged with the normally upper and spout carrying end of the can 1, simply by inserting the upper and free end of said spout 2 into and through its opening 5, and ultimately bringing said basal portion 5 into juxtaposed and bearing engagement with and over the substantially flat upper end of the can 1 in the manner clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. As the said basal portions of the device is brought into bearing and supported engagement with and on the substantially flat end of the can 1, the upper and free end portion of its spout 2 is engaged in and passed through the opening 8 in the inwardly disposed and substantially horizontally positioned extension or tongue 7, particularly, in the manner also shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. With the device thus positioned, it is obvious that the substan tially upstanding portion 6 thereof, i. e., that portion which receives and carries the flints 11, will be retained in'such upstanding position, the better and more efficiently to display flints 11 received and retained in its various 1 openings 10.

It is readily understandable that a lighter fuel dispensing can and combined flint packaging and displaying device, such as hereinbefore described, when assembled, will constitute a more or lessunitary assembly or product; also, that the function and/or use of one will in no manner interfere withthat of the other.

To remove the flints or flint 11' from'the portion 6 of the-device, it is only necessary that the flint or flints be engaged and thrust outwardly, thusdislodging the same :.I'

from their particular retaining openings 10. Such removal may be accomplished, obviously, without need for disturbing the original installation or positioning of the device on the dispensing can, should such be desired.

On the other hand, if a user of the improved device so desires, he may readily remove it from the dispensing can upper end and its dispensing spout, in a most obvious manner. Furthermore, if desired, the basal portion 5 and the extension portion 7 may be torn or otherwise disjoined from the flint carrying portion 6 which, in turn, :p:

the construction of the device exactly corresponds to that x shown in the drawing Figures 1 and 2, but is'provided with sheets or strips of transparent material 13 and 13', of shape and sizes such as well permit'their engagement over and covering the opposite sides of the device portion 6 adjacent and along the flint receiving and retaining pockets 10 and the flints 11 therein. In this manner, the fiints 11 will be prevented from being accidentally or undesirably displaced. By the same token, since said flints 11 will be fully covered, they will be preserved against bodily deterioration due to atmospheric exposure.

In the Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown a still further modified form of my invention. In this particular form of the device, a single flat and sheet-like body 14 is employed. Said body is preferably made of cardboard of suitable thickness, though it may, of course, be as satisfactorily made of various other materials, for example, plastics or even metal may be used in its construction.

This sheet-like body 14 is of a size such as to permit its nesting or snug engagement in the flange-rimmed upper end portion 15 of a dispensing can 1', and to be supportingly engaged or contacted with the substantially flat upper end of said can 1, which is provided with the usual and communicating dispensing spout 2, Whose outer and open end may be and normally is closed by a suitable cap 3'.

An opening 5a is formed intermediately of the body 14 and its size and shape is such as to snugly receive therein the basal portion of the can dispensing spout 2', as clearly shown in Figure 5.

Said sheet-like body portion 14 is provided on either side of its opening 5a with a series of longitudinally disposed openings 16 whose shape and size are such as to snugly and bindingly or frictionally receive and retain therein lighter flints, generally indicated by the numeral 17.

It will be understood that the flints 17 may be selectively or collectively removed from the can top end carried body portion 14; but that until they are so removed, they will be most conveniently and etfectually packaged and/ or retained.

To facilitate access to the fiints 17 for their removal, an adjacent part of said body portion 14 may be flexed upwardly or outwardly with relation to the adjacent upper end of the can 1.

I claim:

In combination with a spouted dispensing container having that end wall of the same adjacent the spout vertically flanged, a package and display device for hints comprising a substantially vertical body having flint receiving and retaining means thereon, a substantially flat portion on the lower side of the body disposed at an angle thereto and having an opening therethrough receiving said spout, said portion being of shape and size substantially corresponding to that of said end wall and lying flatly on the same within its vertically flanged portion, and a substantially flat tongue on the upper side of said body disposed at an angle thereto and overlying said flat portion, said tongue having an opening in the same receiving the spout therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,350,294 Brown Aug. 24, 1920 2,250,666 Godefroy July 29, 1941 2,305,002 Harris Dec. 15, 1942 2,324,228 Nash July 13, 1943 2,352,319 Harris June 27, 1944 2,403,746 Nutt July 9, 1946 2,461,198 Chiger Feb. 8, 1949 2,637,152 Kraus May 5, 1953 

